‘It will be strange watching it from home’ - Rohit Sharma breaks silence on missing T20 World Cup for first time

Former India captain Rohit Sharma has opened up on watching the upcoming T20 World Cup from the sidelines for the first time. Having retired from T20Is after leading India to the title in 2024, Rohit admitted that the reality of missing a global tournament has finally sunk in.

Rohit, alongside Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, stepped away from the shortest format after the Men in Blue ended their long ICC trophy drought by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup. While Rohit and Kohli now feature only in ODIs, the 2026 edition will mark the first time Rohit does not take the field in a T20 World Cup. India begin their title defence against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the team.

Speaking on JioHotstar’s show ‘Captain Rohit Sharma’s Roadmap for T20 World Cup’, the 38-year-old reflected on how different this phase feels. He said missing bilateral matches never hit as hard, but a World Cup absence is different.

"We were talking about this at home, that it will be strange watching it from home, especially the T20 World Cup. From the time it started until now, I have been part of every World Cup, so it will feel different. When you miss a World Cup, the reality really sinks in. That's when you realise you're not going to be part of it. However, I will be somewhere in the stadium. It won't be the same, but it will be a different experience," he said.

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The batting stalwart also reflected on his captaincy stint, stating that leadership at the highest level often demands tough and unpopular decisions. He stressed that selection calls before major tournaments were among the hardest parts of the role. Citing examples such as Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from the 2022 Asia Cup and T20 World Cup, Rohit explained how team balance and multi-skill requirements influenced decisions.

"There have been many such instances of taking hard calls before World Cups. You will not be able to please everyone, but it is important for the individual to know why a decision is taken," Rohit added.

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Meanwhile, Rohit backed the current Indian T20 setup, pointing out that continuity has worked in their favour. With nearly 80-90 per cent of the squad unchanged from the last World Cup and an average age close to 25, he believes the team has developed a strong understanding over the past two years.